How do I start a Cessna 172 in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

To start a Cessna 172 in Microsoft Flight Simulator, set the parking brake, fuel selector to BOTH and fuel shut-off open. Switch on the battery and alternator, prime with the electric fuel pump, crank the starter, then advance the mixture to full rich when the engine fires. On PC, Ctrl+E starts it automatically.

This assumes the aircraft is parked cold and dark. If you spawn on an active runway, Microsoft Flight Simulator normally loads the Cessna with its engine and essential systems already running.

How do I start the Cessna 172 manually?

A manual cold-and-dark start uses the fuel-injected C172 sequence below. Switch labels and animations can vary slightly between Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and add-on aircraft, so use the checklist supplied with the particular model when it disagrees.

1. Secure the aircraft: Set the parking brake. Put the fuel selector on BOTH, push the fuel shut-off control fully in, leave the mixture at idle cut-off and confirm that the tanks contain fuel.
2. Switch on electrical power: Turn on the BAT and ALT sides of the master switch, followed by the beacon. Leave the avionics buses off while cranking.
3. Set the throttle: Open it about a quarter of an inch rather than leaving it completely closed.
4. Prime the engine: Move the mixture to full rich, switch on the auxiliary fuel pump briefly—usually only a few seconds—then return the mixture to idle cut-off and switch the pump off. A warm engine normally needs little or no priming.
5. Crank the starter: Turn and hold the ignition key at START. As soon as the engine fires, advance the mixture smoothly to full rich and release the key; it should return to BOTH.
6. Stabilise the engine: Adjust the throttle to roughly 1,000 RPM, check that oil pressure rises promptly, then switch on the avionics buses and the lights required for the flight.

A mistake we see constantly is leaving the mixture at idle cut-off after the engine catches. The C172 may fire for a second on the priming fuel and then stop. Advancing the mixture as it starts prevents that.

Does the procedure differ between MSFS 2020 and 2024?

The default fuel-injected Cessna 172 follows the same basic starting logic in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024. The cockpit interaction, initial aircraft state and checklist presentation can differ; our version-specific MSFS 2024 switch sequence covers that edition in more detail.

Some add-on or older C172 variants are carburetted rather than fuel-injected. Those aircraft use a manual primer instead of the auxiliary electric-pump sequence, so do not apply a C172S-style procedure blindly. Check which engine and model the add-on represents.

Can I start the Cessna 172 automatically?

Press Ctrl+E on a PC keyboard to run Microsoft Flight Simulator's automatic engine-start sequence. Let the sequence finish without moving the mixture, ignition or master switches while the simulator is operating them.

If that shortcut does nothing, search the Controls settings for the engine auto-start command and check its assignment. Custom keyboard profiles can remove the default binding, while detailed add-on aircraft may restrict or override automatic starting. Controller assignments also vary between Xbox, PlayStation and custom PC profiles, so binding the command is more reliable than assuming a universal button combination.

Why won't the Cessna 172 start?

Most failed Cessna starts are caused by fuel, mixture or electrical state rather than a damaged engine.

• The starter does not turn: Check the battery master, ignition control and starter binding. When using the cockpit key, hold it at START rather than clicking and immediately releasing it.
• The engine cranks but never fires: Confirm there is fuel aboard, select BOTH, open the fuel shut-off valve and perform the short priming sequence.
• The engine fires and dies: Move the mixture to full rich as it catches and leave the throttle slightly open.
• The engine is flooded: Put the mixture at idle cut-off, open the throttle fully and crank. When it catches, advance the mixture and reduce the throttle promptly. Follow the aircraft's own checklist if an add-on models a different clearing procedure.
• The engine runs but the displays remain dark: Switch on the avionics buses and allow the glass cockpit time to boot. Also confirm that both sides of the master switch are on.

What should I do after the engine starts?

After starting, check oil pressure and electrical output, configure the avionics, obtain the weather, then complete the taxi and engine run-up checks. Our full simulator C172 checklist continues through taxi, run-up and shutdown, while our Cessna 172 flying guide covers take-off, cruise and landing technique.